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Growth Hormone Improves Cardiopulmonary Capacity and Body Composition in Children With Growth Hormone Deficiency

Donatella Capalbo1, Flavia Barbieri1, Nicola Improda1

  • 1Department of Translational Medical Sciences, Pediatric Section, Federico II University of Naples, 80131 Naples, Italy.

The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
|September 23, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Children with growth hormone deficiency (GHD) have impaired cardiac structure, body composition, and exercise capacity. Growth hormone (GH) therapy effectively restored these parameters in a 12-month study.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Endocrinology
  • Cardiology
  • Exercise Physiology

Background:

  • Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) in children may impact cardiovascular health and functional capacity.
  • Limited data exists on cardiopulmonary function in pediatric GHD.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the effects of GHD and growth hormone (GH) therapy on cardiopulmonary function.
  • To evaluate changes in cardiac structure and function.
  • To analyze alterations in body composition in children and adolescents with GHD.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective case-control study involving 21 children with GHD and 21 matched controls.
  • Evaluations included cardiopulmonary exercise testing, echocardiography, and dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry.
  • Measurements were taken before and after 12 months of GH therapy for the GHD group.

Main Results:

  • Untreated GHD children exhibited reduced left ventricular mass, peak oxygen consumption, workload, and O2 pulse compared to controls.
  • GHD patients had lower lean body mass and higher fat mass.
  • GH therapy significantly improved cardiac structure, cardiopulmonary capacity, and body composition, with no changes in ventricular function.

Conclusions:

  • Children with untreated GHD present with impaired cardiac structure, body composition, and cardiopulmonary capacity.
  • Short-term GH replacement therapy can effectively restore these parameters in pediatric GHD patients.
Abstract

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